A St. George man charged with first-degree murder pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning and claims not he was properly given his Miranda rights.

Victor Manuel Hernandez, 21, appeared in 5th District Court for an arraignment hearing Tuesday, where defense attorney Ken Combs also made a motion to suppress evidence gathered by law enforcement during a series of interviews conducted at the St. George Police Department.

According to court testimony, detectives interviewed Hernandez on June 22, the day after Luwing Leonardo Lopez was killed in St. George. The interview was conducted in three sessions.

Lt. Richard Triplett testified during Hernandez's preliminary hearing Monday that he read Hernandez his Miranda rights during the first interview that took place. According to the motion to suppress, the first interview occurred around 12:25 p.m.

"The defendant allegedly was read his Miranda rights but made no significant statement against his interests," the document states.

This claim lines up with Triplett's testimony, in which the police officer said Hernandez initially denied being involved with Lopez's murder.

The second interview occurred several hours later that day, around 7:15 p.m., according to the motion. Both the document and Triplett's testimony allege Hernandez admitted to the crime during this interview.

Combs told The Spectrum & Daily News that Hernandez was not read his Miranda rights again nor did the officers interviewing him reference the rights that had previously been read to him. The motion states that during the third interview, which began at 8:37 p.m., Hernandez made additional "incriminating statements" under the same conditions as the second interview.

Triplett testified Hernandez admitted to smoking controlled substances with Lopez prior to having a verbal altercation that resulted in Hernandez stabbing Lopez.

According to Triplett's testimony, Hernandez admitted to police during the second and third interviews that he choked Lopez "until he stopped breathing" after he tried to escape. Hernandez also admitted to stabbing Lopez several additional times in the face and neck area, Triplett testified.

The motion to suppress the interview evidence cites that law enforcement officers did not properly Mirandize Hernandez, therefore resulting in a violation of his 5th and 6th Amendment rights.

However, Deputy Washington County Attorney Ryan Shaum asserts the officers correctly read Hernandez his Miranda rights during the three interrogations.